Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan and China had a “frank exchange of views” as they held the 17^th round of the Japan-China Security Dialogue at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo on Wednesday, the Ministry reported.

The meeting included YAMADA Shigeo, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and ANDO Atsushi, Deputy Director-General of the Defense Policy Bureau. From the China side, the participants included Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director for the Office for International Military Cooperation. 

The participants exchanged views on both countries’ security and defense policies, their communications on security and defense matters, as well as international and regional affairs. 

The two countries explained their respective security and defense policies, with Japan reiterating its serious concerns about matters such as the situation in the East China Sea, including the Senkaku Islands, and Chinese military activity near Japan that includes joint exercises with Russia. Japan expressed its concern regarding the balloon-type flying object detected in Japanese airspace. 

The two parties will continue coordination regarding the “Hotline between Japanese and Chinese Defense Authorities” under the “Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism between Defense Authorities of Japan and China”. 

Japan strongly condemned the launch of an intercontinental-class ballistic missile (ICBM) conducted by North Korea on the 18^th and the launch of ballistic missiles on the 20^th. Japan also called upon China to fulfill its responsible role in maintaining the peace and security of the international community with regard to Ukraine.